Senators Kent Conrad and Byron Dorgan and Congressman Earl Pomeroy announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded a $6 million grant to the Minnewaukan Public School District to relocate their school away from the rising waters of Devils Lake.
"Minnewaukan School faces an urgent threat. This runaway lake is lapping at their doorstep. Action needs to be taken and taken now," the delegation said in a joint statement. "This is a grant we have been pushing for and will be a tremendous help in moving the school to higher ground."
The Minnewaukan School serves more than 223 students in K - 12th grade. At one time, Devils Lake was more than eight miles from the school. Now, the school's football field is completely submerged and the rising lake waters are within 130 feet of the school.